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Part III - Pivotal Election: The Reformists
Shaul Bakhash Iran’s reformers transformed revolutionary politics between 1997 and 2005 under former President Mohammed Khatami. But today, the reformists’ ability to contest the presidential elections in any meaningful way…
Part II - Pivotal Election: The Ahmadinejad Camp
Shaul Bakhash Despite their current political dominance, Iran’s conservatives appear inordinately fearful of challenges looming in the June presidential election. Perhaps the most surprising is their concern that President…
Part I - Pivotal Election: The Conservatives
Shaul Bakhash Iran’s presidential elections, slated for mid-June, will take place against a background of domestic uncertainty. The economy has been battered by sanctions from abroad and mismanagement at home. Oil sales and…
Kerry: Iran Can Prove Peaceful Intentions
On January 24, Senator John Kerry pledged to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons if confirmed as the new Secretary of State. But if Tehran's program is peaceful, it can allow inspections and prove it, Kerry told the Senate…
Why is Parchin Important (or Not)?
Iran and the U.N. nuclear watchdog failed to strike a deal after two days of negotiations from January 16-17. The U.N. demand to access the Parchin military complex near Tehran has been a divisive issue in previous talks. The…
Tehran’s Mixed Messages on U.N. Nuclear Talks
Iranian and U.N. officials failed to produce an agreement after intensive talks in Tehran from January 16-17. Iran has sent mixed messages on negotiations with the International Atomic Energy (IAEA). Ambassador to the IAEA Ali…
Profile: Revolutionary Guards Chief Gen. Jafari
Alireza Nader As commander of the Revolutionary Guards, General Mohammad Ali Jafari is one of the dozen most powerful men in Iran. He is a hard-line ideologue loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He rose to power through a…
Iran’s Influence in Afghanistan After U.S. Pullout
Omar Samad Has Iran's influence in Afghanistan changed since the U.S. troop surge in 2010? What steps has it taken in anticipation of the U.S. withdrawal planned for 2014? The Islamic Republic considers the U.S. presence in Afghanistan a major security…
Ahmadinejad Urges Parliament to Cut Reliance on Oil
On January 16, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told Parliament that Iran needs to cut reliance on petrodollars “once and for all.” Iran’s oil revenues have dropped 45 percent in the last nine months, according to parliament’s budget committee…
Letter Appeals to Obama, Khamenei from Former Iran Parliamentarians
On January 7, seven former Iranian parliamentarians called for direct talks between Washington and Tehran on the nuclear issue. They urged Iran to stop enriching uranium to twenty percent in return for a lift on international…
Pew: Rising Tide of Restrictions on Religion
Among 197 countries, Iran ranked sixth in restricting freedom of religion, according to a Pew Research Center survey. It even ranked below Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. The following are selected results from The Pew Forum on…
Congress Report: Iran Intelligence Expanding
Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security has recently expanded its operations in the Middle East and beyond, most notably in Latin America and Europe, according to a new report by the Library of Congress. A profile of the ministry,…
Iran-Egypt: Prospects of a New Alliance?
Interview with Joshua Stacher By Garrett Nada What is the state of relations between the Muslim Brotherhood and Iran, especially in light of Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi’s third visit to Egypt since President Mohamed Morsi took office in June 2012? …
Pew: Iran’s Popularity (or Not) in the World
As part of its Global Attitudes Project, the Pew Research Center surveyed attitudes about Iran among major countries. The two charts below reflect the two halves of the answer to the same question. The question: Please…
48 Iranian Captives Return from Syria
On January 10, 48 Iranian captives landed in Tehran after their release by Syrian rebels. The Syrian government freed 2,130 detainees in exchange for the Iranians, according to the Turkish humanitarian organization that coordinated…
State of Diplomacy: What will it take?
Michael AdlerWhat is Iran’s standing in the world in 2013 compared to the beginning of 2012? Iran was resilient in 2012. It managed to survive increasing diplomatic, economic and military pressures: · …
Hagel’s Past Comments on Iran
On January 7, President Obama nominated former Senator Chuck Hagel to be the Secretary of Defense during his second term. The following are comments by Senator Hagel on Iran since 2005. …
New Penalties on Iran in Defense Bill
On January 3, President Barack Obama signed a $633 billion defense bill for fiscal year 2013. The comprehensive appropriations bill will help “ensure the United States will continue to have the strongest military in the world,”…
Iran’s Economy Faces Grim 2013
Kevan Harris What is the state of Iran’s economy in 2013 compared to a year ago? Iran's economy enters 2013 significantly worse than a year ago, particularly with higher inflation and unemployment than at the beginning of 2012…
Iran: A Rough Year in 2013
Alireza Nader For Iran, 2013 could be one of the most challenging years—both at home and in relations with the outside world—since the 1979 revolution. The Islamic Republic faces the potential of stronger economic sanctions and even an Israeli and/or U.S.…
Kerry’s Past Comments on Iran
On December 21, President Barack Obama nominated Senator John Kerry to be the Secretary of State during his second term. The following are comments by Senator Kerry on Iran since 2004. …
More U.S. Sanctions for Proliferation
On December 21, the U.S. Treasury froze the assets of four Iranian companies and one executive for links to Tehran’s missile and nuclear programs. SAD Import Export Company was also sanctioned for supplying weapons to Syria’s…
Panetta: New U.S. Strategy to Counter Iran
On December 18, Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta outlined a new U.S. defense strategy that will counter “the continuing threat from Iran.” If Tehran attempts to close the Straits of Hormuz, “we must be capable of being able…
Iran Boosts North Korean Missile Program
Iran may have helped North Korea launch a multistage rocket and put a satellite into orbit on December 12, according to a new report by John S. Park. “What started as a transactional relationship, where Iran provided much-…
The U.S.-Iran Covert War
Ari Ratner What is the U.S.-Iran covert war? What is the United States doing? What is Iran doing? And why? During both the Bush and Obama administrations, Iran and the United States have engaged in a shadow war that relies…
Iran’s Subsidy Reform: RIP
In November 2012, Iran’s parliament suspended subsidy reform and is now unlikely to allow “drastic increases” in the price of consumer staples over the next year, according to a new report by Jahangir Amuzegar. President Mahmoud…
U.S. Sanctions Iranian Nuclear Proliferation Networks
On December 13, the U.S. Treasury and State Department imposed sanctions on seven Iranian companies and five individuals for “proliferating weapons of mass destruction” pursuant to Executive Order 13382. The entities “provide the Iranian…
U.S. Intelligence: Iran Key to Future Mideast Stability
Iran’s nuclear intentions will be a key variable in future Middle East stability, according to a new report by the U.S. National Intelligence Council. “Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds” explores what the world may look like in…
U.S.-Iranian Competition in the Middle East
The Arab uprisings shattered the conventional military balance between Iran and the United States in the Middle East, according to an updated report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The two countries have since…
U.S. Intelligence: Iran Key to Future Mideast Stability
Iran’s potential decision to build a nuclear weapon may be the key variable in the future stability of the Middle East, according to a new report by the U.S. National Intelligence Council. “Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds”…